TEHRAN, Iran – Iran's Defense Minister says his country is now using laser systems to dramatically improve the accuracy of its ballistic missiles.

Hossein Dehghan said missiles can now hit to within two meters (yards) of their targets, compared to 200 meters (yards) previously. His comments were posted on the ministry's website Monday.

Iran frequently announced breakthroughs in military technology that are impossible to independently verify.

Iran has a variety of missiles, some with a reported range of 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles), enough to reach much of the Middle East. Commanders have described them as a deterrent, capable of hitting a U.S. base or an Israeli target in the event of a strike on Iran.

The Pentagon released a rare public report last year noting that Iran has improved its missile capabilities.